Family members and police on Tuesday asked for the public’s help to locate whoever is responsible for killing two teenagers found shot to death in the unincorporated Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles last month.
The attack happened about 11 p.m. on Oct. 15 around the 12200 block of Maple Avenue in the Willowbrook neighborhood of South L.A., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials said.
Jamele Hill, 17, was driving with his 16-year-old cousin Millyon Colquitt in the passenger seat and three other friends in the back seat that evening. They were on their way to meet up with a girl when someone started firing shots at them, police said.
Hill drove about a half block before crashing into a parked car near the intersection of 124th Street and Maple Avenue.
Hill and Colquitt each had multiple gunshot wounds on their torsos when they were discovered inside the crashed car, officials said.
More than a dozen shots had been fired at the driver’s side of the vehicle, police said. The two teens were pronounced dead at the scene.
“Jamele managed to drive the vehicle out of the area, possibly saving the other three friends of his that were in the back seat,” Lt. Brandon Dean said at a news conference Tuesday.
The three surviving teens fled the scene for safety but returned to speak with deputies, once the scene was safe, officials said. None of them were injured during the incident.
Detectives have no motive and no suspect information. Sheriff’s Department announced a $10,000 reward on Tuesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attackers in the shooting deaths.
Colquitt, whose mother died six months ago, was a gifted athlete who had dreams of playing for the NBA. Hill was also a good student and gifted athlete, family members said.
“If we do not put an end into all this senseless violence that’s going on, enough would not be enough,” Krystal Jackson, an aunt of the two teens, said at the news conference. “Because there won’t be enough of us left.”
Authorities asked anyone with information to call 323-890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact “Crime Stoppers” by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), using the “P3 Tips” mobile app or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
